GOAL US writers debate result against Ecuador and whether Mauricio Pochettino should make changes ahead of tricky Aussie match
COMMERCE CITY, Colo. – So, 1-1. Not a bad result for the USMNT. They struggled in the opening stages, and could have few qualms in going down 1-0. But Mauricio Pochettino's men rallied. The shapes started to form, the players kicked into gear. Suddenly, there was a team here. The draw could have been a win with a couple fortunate bounces.
Still, this is less about the scoreline and more about the performance – if only because that's the positive to take from the game. Sure, Weston McKennie was excellent. Tim Weah, Malik Tillman and Tanner Tessmann all showed why they should be in with a shout every time the U.S. play. Christian Pulisic, dealing with an aggravated ankle, still came in as second-half sub.
And Folarin Balogun showed why he leads the race to be the starting striker. In short, these were mostly good things from a mostly good performance. And perhaps that's exactly what was required here. Australia are next, and they're pretty good, too – sitting in the top 25 of FIFA's world rankings and coming off a 1-0 victory over Canada.
GOAL US writers break down the USMNT friendlies in the latest edition of… The Rondo.
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What’s the biggest takeaway from the Ecuador draw?
Tom Hindle: That the USMNT are improving, but still need to avoid mental mistakes. They were truly excellent for some stretches, and probably, on balance, deserved more than the draw. But there were some clear errors – including giving up a fairly preventable goal. Still, these are what friendlies are for. Good signs, mostly.
Ryan Tolmich: There are plenty of big ones, but the usage of McKennie is probably the one with the biggest knock-on effect. After the match, both Pochettino and McKennie described his role as one with "freedom" and the USMNT boss hinted that he prefers McKennie in a more attacking role. If he is among the attacking midfielders, what does that mean for the World Cup squad? How does that change competition? And what does that mean for the defensive midfield? It's all very interesting as Pochettino looks to get the best out of a clearly talented player.
Alex Labidou: Pochettino has found a system that works and that’s critical. When the U.S. were struggling earlier in the year, the biggest takeaway wasn't a given result but the fact Pochettino struggled to really make an imprint on this team. On Friday, his preferred way of play was on display and he created the system that best suits his ideology AND fits his players. And they performed well against one of the best defensive teams in the world. However, it was not perfect. For example, what happens with Weah – one of the team's best players – when Sergino Dest is healthy? He’s certainly not a No. 10, which Poch utilized two against Ecuador. Where does McKennie fit when Tyler Adams is back? Pochettino has nine months to figure it out.
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Whose impact was missed most – Pulisic or Antonee Robinson?
TH: Will all the love in the world to Max Arfsten, Antonee Robinson is simply a level above. That's not a massive criticism, per se, but Robinson, on his day, is one of the best left backs around. Arfsten just isn't up to the pace of the international game, and the drop off is clear there. Now, if the opponent had been, say, Brazil, then Pulisic is missed more. But the U.S. should have enough attacking quality to get it done against Ecuador. In the end, it was about balance.
RT: Robinson's impact on that left-hand side is massive, but this is Pulisic we're talking about here. The U.S. likely gets another goal or two if Pulisic is on the field against Ecuador, simply due to his ability to make things happen in tight spaces. When he is on the field, the U.S. is simply much better. And while that's also true for Robinson, Pulisic makes such a direct impact on winning and losing. It has to be him.
AL: Pulisic is obviously the best player on the U.S., and despite not starting, he’s known commodity under Pochettino. So let’s go with Robinson. Jedi has only played three games under the Argentine and hasn’t featured in any match in 2025. Robinson, the U.S. Player of the Year in 2004, was one of the world’s best left backs last season. While the U.S. haven’t necessarily been at a disadvantage in his absence, he could be a game-changer if at full strength.
Imagn
Which player deserves a shot vs Australia?
TH: Excluding Pulisic, who didn't start because of a minor injury, it's probably the right time to chuck Mark McKenzie in properly. Still not entirely sold by his on-ball ability, but the Toulouse man is certainly a better one-on-one defender than Miles Robinson, and has a valuable turn of pace, too. Let's face it, too, when a World Cup rolls around, McKenzie will likely be the man in the mix.
RT: Yes, it's McKenzie, largely because he's a player who could very well start next summer. He's had some ups and downs in a USMNT shirt, for sure, but McKenzie is a good centerback who continuously proves that fact in Ligue 1. It's important to see how he plays in the USMNT's three-back next to Tim Ream and Chris Richards, even if he plays in a similar system at the club level. McKenzie, more than anyone, should get that look to at least provide some clarity on where he stands in the centerback pool.
AL: Diego Luna would be the easy answer, but again he falls into the known commodity category. How about Haji Wright and Patrick Schulte? While the U.S. No. 1 goalkeeper job seems to be Matt Freese’s to lose, his inability to make an important save against Ecuador should prompt Pochettino to at least take a look at another goalkeeper. Schulte has only played once under Pochettino. And for Wright, Pochettino knows what he has in the striker position with Balogun. So now, it’s time to firm up who is No. 2. Ricardo Pepi should be the shoo-in here, but his injury record should push Pochettino to take a lengthy look at his other forwards. Patrick Agyemang got an extended run at Gold Cup, so now its Wright’s turn.
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Does Poch finally have the right formation?
TH: Sure? There's certainly more balance here, but we haven't seen either system with a full strength side yet. This seems a good fit, but until both are fully compared, then it's still a TBD.
RT: Absolutely. Even without multiple key players, the U.S. was able to generate attacking chances against Ecuador. There was space to run into, options for attackers and, ultimately, good looks on goal. Were there some issues? Yes. The midfield was a bit too exposed, but that might get solved when Adams returns. This system is quite clearly the way forward, although there are still tweaks to be made to perfect it in time for the World Cup.
AL: For the most part, yes. But it will create some selection headaches when Pochettino has his full contingent. Finding the right options at both right wing back and the center and attacking midfielder positions is going to be difficult.
Sunderland, back in the Premier League in 2025 after an eight-year absence, splashed the cash in the summer transfer window.
The Black Cats made their mark in the window by spending more than £100m on new additions, with the likes of Granit Xhaka and Habib Diarra moving to the Stadium of Light.
However, previously, Sunderland almost signed some legends of the game. From Virgil van Dijk to Kevin De Bruyne, the Black Cats nearly landed these world-class stars.
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ByCharlie Smith Sep 5, 2025 10 players who Sunderland almost signed 10 Virgil van Dijk
Between 2013 and 2015, Virgil van Dijk was starring for Celtic, whereas at Sunderland, Gus Poyet was in charge at the Stadium of Light.
Van Dijk previously admitted that he had conversations about signing for the Black Cats during Poyet’s tenure, however, he would instead choose another team in red and white stripes in Southampton.
9 Kevin De Bruyne
Manchester City's KevinDeBruynepictured on the substitutes bench before the match
In 2011, Kevin De Bruyne was coming through in Belgium with Genk and was wanted by then-Sunderland boss Steve Bruce.
The Black Cats and Aston Villa were battling it out for De Bruyne, but it was Chelsea who won the race. Things didn’t work out for him at Stamford Bridge, however, he did become a Premier League legend with Manchester City.
Games
5
Wins
4
Draws
0
Losses
1
Goals
2
Assists
3
8 Diego Maradona
Back in 1977, Diego Maradona burst onto the scene as a teenager and would make his Argentina debut.
At club level, the attacker was with Argentinos Juniors but actually wanted to make the move to England and sign for Sunderland. Unfortunately for the Black Cats, Argentina declared Maradona ‘untransferrable’. Daniel Arcucci, who was the Argentinian’s biographer, said:
7 Luis Suarez
Sunderland were on the search for a new striker in 2010 to partner Darren Bent, and that man could have been Luis Suarez.
Suarez was at Ajax at the time and Sunderland sent scouts to watch him, however, they instead signed Ghana’s Asamoah Gyan following the World Cup, with Suarez the villain after his famous handball on the biggest stage.
6 Zlatan Ibrahimovic
AC Milan's Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Sunderland tried to sign Zlatan Ibrahimovic on two occasions under Peter Reid in the early years of the iconic striker’s career.
The Swede was scoring goals for fun with Ajax and would go on to star for Juventus, Inter Milan, Barcelona, AC Milan, Paris Saint-Germain and Man Utd.
5 Ruud van Nistelrooy
Reid also tried to sign Ruud van Nistelrooy for Sunderland when the Dutchman was with Heerenveen.
The striker was still young and had a £5m asking price, something which the Black Cats decided against. Van Nistelrooy would then sign for PSV Eindhoven before becoming a Manchester United legend.
4 Diego Forlan
Another former Man Utd striker who could have played for Sunderland was Diego Forlan, who was wanted by former Red Devils teammate Roy Keane during his time as Black Cats manager.
Instead of signing for Sunderland, though, Forlan moved to Atletico Madrid in 2007 from Villarreal.
3 Paul Scholes
Paul Scholes
The 1996/97 Premier League season was the final one at Roker Park and ended in relegation for the Black Cats.
However, it could have been different if Sunderland managed to sign Paul Scholes from Man Utd. The iconic English midfielder was into his third year as an Old Trafford professional, and he’d never become available even though the Black Cats were desperate to do a deal.
Games
15
Wins
13
Draws
2
Losses
0
Goals
4
2 Robbie Keane
Arguably one of the most underrated strikers in Premier League history, Robbie Keane could quite easily have been a Sunderland player in 2002.
In fact, the Black Cats agreed a fee with Leeds for the Irish forward, but Keane would turn down a move north, joining Tottenham a year later.
1 Joe Hart
A move to the Stadium of Light for goalkeeper Joe Hart, a four-time Premier League golden glove winner, was on the cards in 2016.
David Moyes was in charge and said the club could have landed the England shot-stopper, however, Hart himself said he snubbed Sunderland, instead signing on loan for Italian side Torino.
Charlotte Edwards has offered to help the ECB during its review into England’s 16-0 Women’s Ashes drubbing at the hands of Australia.Edwards, the former England captain turned decorated coach, has not ruled herself out of taking over the head coach role if it becomes available in the aftermath of the review, saying in an interview this week that she felt better equipped than she was two-and-a-half years ago, just before Jon Lewis replaced Lisa Keightley at the helm. But she was even stronger on lending her support to the ECB’s inquiry.”I’m certainly more prepared because of some of the experiences I’ve had in the last few years,” Edwards told the BBC’s Stumped podcast. “I just want to help at the moment because I feel like this review’s taking place and I think they’ve got to ask people within the game what they think. I’ve got great experience across county level, working in the WBBL, that hopefully someone will pick up the phone and ask what we need to do to get better.”That’s all I care about at the moment. I don’t care who coaches the team, who captains the team. I just want English cricket to get back to where it should be. And I think we’ve got to use people who know what’s going on to help and I feel I’m in a position to help and hopefully support the ECB in that process.”Related
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Edwards would be a leading candidate as England Women’s head coach should the role become vacant given her outstanding success in the world’s top franchise leagues and at domestic level.Having initially said she was interested in taking the England job in September 2022, Edwards decided against applying a couple of weeks later, saying she was enjoying her burgeoning franchise coaching career with Southern Brave in the Women’s Hundred and WBBL side Sydney Sixers, as well as leading Southern Vipers in the domestic women’s competition, which included a T20 competition named in her honour.Edwards has led Southern Vipers to five titles, including two Charlotte Edwards Cup victories – the second as part of a domestic double in 2023 – and Southern Brave to three Women’s Hundred finals, winning the 2023 edition. She also led Sydney Sixers to the WBBL final in her first season in charge in 2022-23.During that time, her franchise coaching portfolio expanded to include Mumbai Indians, who are about to begin their campaign for a second title in three years under her guidance, having won the inaugural WPL trophy. She has also been appointed head coach of Hampshire Women under the new domestic structure in England and Wales beginning this season.Edwards said she watched much of the Women’s Ashes, where England were thumped by more than 50 runs in three white-ball matches and by an innings in the Test, with a sense of “real disappointment”.”Hopefully this will be a moment, a line-in-the-sand moment, for the team and for the ECB to have a look at where we’re going with the women’s game because there’s a lot of good things happening and I think that’s what makes it sad for someone who’s involved in the system,” Edwards said. “There’s a lot of good things happening within the counties and the regional structure and it hasn’t necessarily been portrayed with the England team, so that’s a worry, I guess, and something that needs to be looked at.”Lewis described England’s group-stage exit from the T20 World Cup in October as a “line-in-the-sand moment” and his position has come under increased pressure following that performance, most notably England’s shocking fielding display against West Indies, which knocked them out of the tournament.During the Ashes, there were few signs of improvement in the field, which along with some poor decision-making with the bat and a failure to adapt under pressure from the Australians, saw England unable to pose any real challenge other than in the rain-affected second T20I, which they lost by six runs on the DLS method.Since the T20 World Cup, England’s fitness has also come under scrutiny after commentator and former spinner Alex Hartley said that a handful of players were “letting the team down” with their fitness levels.While Lewis has stood firm in his defence of England’s work in training, even suggesting that Australia’s outdoor lifestyle gave them an advantage in producing athletes, Edwards said there was plenty of ground to be made up to match Australia physically.”I think if you do a comparison, they are more athletic and they are fitter and that’s what we need to now aspire to be like,” Edwards said. “That’s part of our jobs at county level is to now support these players to be fitter, to be more athletic so that we can compete with Australia, so there aren’t those question marks when we play them because that was the hardest thing, wasn’t it? Having that kind of noise in the background when it’s not just all about the cricket.”I think we can turn this around. I don’t think it’s as big a gap as people make out that there is. I know that’s probably quite a stupid thing to say, having been beaten 16-nil, but we are talented, we have a lot of talent in our country, and I think now hopefully this moment we will be a moment we’ll look back on with, I guess, real positivity.”The ECB review is expected to release its recommendations in the coming weeks.
Chelsea have been one of the busiest Premier League sides this summer, and that’s been the case in pretty much every summer window since Todd Boehly/Clearlake Capital’s takeover of the club in 2022.
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Only this time, the west Londoners head into next season looking like genuine title contenders.
Chelsea are fresh off the back of a very promising last few months, winning both the UEFA Conference League and the inaugural new edition of the Club World Cup, not to mention qualifying for the 2025/2026 Champions League.
Cole Palmer
7.33
Moises Caicedo
7.02
Enzo Fernández
6.95
Nicolas Jackson
6.88
Noni Madueke
6.82
via WhoScored
BlueCo have therefore sought to back manager Enzo Maresca with a complete revamp of the squad, with Chelsea being extremely active in terms of both incomings and outgoings.
In the last 72 hours, a host of surplus players in Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Lesley Ugochukwu and Armando Broja have sealed permanent exits from Stamford Bridge – with the trio’s departures poised to yield around £65 million (The Mail).
After being fined for breaching FFP rules by UEFA last month, player sales are absolutely key, as Chelsea must produce a “positive transfer balance” or face not being able to register new signings for their Champions League squad next season (Nizaar Kinsella).
The Blues are intent on spending even more money before deadline day too, adding to their already-impressive collection of new signings in Liam Delap, Jamie Gittens, Joao Pedro and left-back Jorrel Hato.
Chelsea have been in talks for RB Leipzig playmaker Xavi Simons for some time, but a potential deal for the Dutchman apparently won’t impact their long-standing interest in Man United winger Alejandro Garnacho.
Reliable media sources indicate that Chelsea are expected to bid for Garnacho before the window shuts as they pursue another left-winger after Gittens. Now, Sky Sports have shared an update on this.
Chelsea in talks to sign Alejandro Garnacho and Xavi Simons
The broadcast giant reports that Chelsea are in ongoing talks to sign both Garnacho and Simons right now, and Maresca’s side are “pushing” to make the duo their next signings of the summer.
Simons is apparently valued at around £60 million, according to talkSPORT, while The Mirror recently claimed that United have slashed Garnacho’s asking price to around £40 million with the clock ticking to strike a deal.
The latter is on Ruben Amorim’s ‘for sale list’ after his Old Trafford fallout, while Simons has apparently made it clear that he’d like to leave Leipzig this summer, with manager Ole Werner leaving him out of their Saturday squad for a friendly defeat to Atalanta.
This potential £100 million double-signing would be a real statement of intent from Chelsea.
Garnacho and Simons bagged a combined 22 goals and 20 assists in all competitions last term, and depending on their role in the squad, the promising young attackers could be major assets as Maresca looks to compete with Liverpool, Arsenal and Man City at the very top.
Ipswich Town have made an offer worth a total of more than £8m to sign a player who Kieran McKenna has publicly praised.
Ipswich Town summer signings so far with bid accepted for Hackney
The Tractor Boys and McKenna are preparing for life back in the Championship ahead of the 2025/26 season and have been active in the transfer market as they eye an immediate return to the Premier League.
So far, Ipswich have brought in four new players, with Azor Matusiwa being the most expensive from Ligue 1 side Rennes.
Ipswich summer signings
From
Fee
Azor Matusiwa
Rennes
£7.8m
Ashley Young
Everton
Free
David Button
Reading
Free
Cedric Kipre
Reims
Loan
However, the Championship transfer record could soon be smashed with Ipswich having a £20m offer accepted for Middlesbrough’s Hayden Hackney.
Hayden Hackney for Middlesbrough.
The midfielder is now considering his future, with Boro boss Rob Edwards recently speaking on Hackney’s proposed move to Ipswich.
“I can’t say too much more right now than what’s already been said [that an offer has been accepted]. The ball, so to speak, is in H’s [Hackney] court now, and that’s where we stand.
“I think it’s a win-win, and I’m happy to reassure fans of that and to be calm about the situation. If H stays here, he’s a brilliant player and he’s ours which is great. If he’s not, there will be funds available.”
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However, he isn’t the only midfielder wanted at Portman Road, with an offer now made for another target who Tractor Boys fans know well.
Ipswich Town make bid worth total £8.2m to re-sign Cajuste
According to reports on Friday, relayed by The East Anglian Daily Times, Ipswich Town have made an offer to bring Jens Cajuste back to the club from Napoli.
The proposal on the table from Ipswich consists of a €2m (£1.7m) loan fee, with an option to buy that becomes mandatory in case of a return to the Premier League for €7.5m (£6.5m).
Worth £8.2m in total, Cajuste has also been linked with Premier League sides Burnley and Crystal Palace, as well as Turkish side Besiktas.
Ipswich’s midfield has seen an overhaul this summer, with McKenna without Sam Morsy and Massimo Luongo, while Kalvin Phillips and Cajuste returning to their parent clubs following their loan spells.
Therefore, Matusiwa, Hackney and Cajuste for 25/26 could be a strong engine room. Speaking back in May, McKenna called Cajuste one of Ipswich’s “top performers” in 24/25 when asked about the chances of re-signing the midfielder.
Now, it looks as if that is on the cards, making this one to watch.
يستعد فريق ليفربول، بقيادة المدرب آرني سلوت، لخوض مباراته في إطار منافسات بطولة الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز ضد خصمه إيفرتون ظهر اليوم السبت.
ويستضيف ملعب “الأنفيلد” مباراة ليفربول وإيفرتون في الجولة الخامسة من الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز، موسم 2025/26.
ويتصدر ليفربول جدول الدوري الإنجليزي برصيد 12 نقطة، العلامة الكاملة، في حين أن إيفرتون لديه 7 نقاط في المركز السادس.
طالع | بالفيديو | صناعة محمد صلاح.. قطار ليفربول يعبر إيفرتون بثنائية في الدوري الإنجليزي
ويدخل ليفربول تلك المباراة بعدما حقق فوزًا قاتلًا على أتلتيكو مدريد، يوم الأربعاء الماضي، في الجولة الأولى من مرحلة الدوري من دوري أبطال أوروبا بثلاثة أهداف لهدفين. موعد مباراة ليفربول وإيفرتون اليوم في الدوري الإنجليزي
تنطلق المباراة في تمام الساعة 2:30 ظهرًا بتوقيت القاهرة والسعودية. القناة الناقلة لمباراة ليفربول وإيفرتون اليوم في الدوري الإنجليزي
تُذاع المباراة عبر قناة beIN SPORTS 1. معلق مباراة ليفربول وإيفرتون اليوم في الدوري الإنجليزي
سيعلق حسن العيدروس على أحداث مباراة اليوم.
ويُمكنكم متابعة أحداث مباريات اليوم لحظة بلحظة من مركز المباريات من هنــــا.
He is “loving it every day” after returning from injury because he “wanted to play all three formats”
ESPNcricinfo staff22-Sep-2024
“I enjoyed batting out there and just got a little bit emotional”•BCCI
At the start of 2023, we, including Rishabh Pant, wondered if he would be on a cricket field again, leave alone be the same flamboyant Pant the world fell in love with. A road accident on the way to surprising his mother in Uttarakhand left his car in flames; most would take coming out alive of it as a blessing let alone compete in elite sport again. Less than two years later, he has beaten every recovery timeline given to him, and even though he missed the home ODI World Cup, he is a T20I world champion, and more importantly now back as a Test jack in the box.On his comeback Test, Pant equalled MS Dhoni on most centuries as an India wicketkeeper, and then confirmed what observers have long believed: even though he entered our consciousness as a T20 player, Test cricket is where he is most at home.”Definitely, it was emotional because coming back I wanted to score in each and every match, which I couldn’t do [in the first innings, where he was part of a recovery but made a mental error],” Pant told the broadcasters after India’s 280-run win against Bangladesh in Chennai. “But coming back to Test cricket, where I belong most is great. I enjoyed batting out there and just got a little bit emotional. But at end of the day, just being on the field gives me more pleasure than doing anything else.”Related
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Pant equalled Dhoni in terms of centuries at Dhoni’s quasi home ground. Pant said he, too, loves the vibes there. “A lot special because I love playing in Chennai, first of all,” Pant said. “And secondly, after injury, I think I wanted to play all three formats and this was my first Test match after coming back. Just loving it every day.”Pant might not have made a big score in the first innings (39), but he walked in ahead of KL Rahul at 34 for 3 and added 62 with his friend Shubman Gill. “I try to read the situation in my own way,” Pant said. “And when you’re 30 for 3, I think you need to switch a partnership. And that’s what exactly me and Gill did out there. Especially, I feel like when you are chatting with someone who you have a great relationship outside the field, it really helps.”Captain Rohit Sharma was full of praise for Pant’s comeback. “He has been through some really tough times, and the way he has managed himself through those tough times was superb to watch,” Rohit said. “He came back in the IPL then followed by the World Cup, a very successful World Cup, and then obviously this is the format he loves the most.”For us it was never about what is he going to do with the bat. We always knew what he had with the bat and with the gloves as well. It was just about getting him back in the game and giving him that game time. Credit to him as well. He went on to play the Duleep Trophy and got ready for this Test match and had an impact straightaway in the game.”
Tottenham Hotspur are in the market for another proven winger to complement Thomas Frank’s current squad, following Timo Werner’s return to parent club RB Leipzig and reports that Son Heung-min may have played his last competitive game for Spurs.
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Despite a fairly promising first six months in north London, Werner ultimately proved to be a flop after chairman Daniel Levy decided to extend his loan spell by a further season, with former boss Ange Postecoglou publicly criticising the German for lacklustre displays.
“He wasn’t playing anywhere near the level he should,” said Postecoglou after Spurs’ draw with Rangers in the Europa League.
Tottenham’s best-performing regulars in the Premier League – 2024/2025
Average match rating
Son Heung-min
7.00
James Maddison
6.98
Pedro Porro
6.95
Dominic Solanke
6.84
Dejan Kulusevski
6.83
via WhoScored
“When you’ve got 18-year-olds [playing], it’s not acceptable to me and I said that to Timo. He’s a senior German international.
“The moment we’re in right now, it’s not like we’ve got many options. I need everyone to at least be going out there trying to give the best of themselves. His performance in the first half wasn’t acceptable.”
With the ex-Chelsea forward ending his brief Spurs stay, Frank could be left even more short in the wide area if Son does leave N17 after 10 years.
Tottenham Hotspur'sSonHeung-minreacts
Saudi sides are expressing a keen interest in the South Korean star, and the Lilywhites may well decide that now is the right time to cash-in on him, taking into account his age and the fact he’s about to enter the final 12 months of his deal.
Spurs did seal a permanent deal for Mathys Tel, who put pen to paper on a £30 million move from Bayern Munich, but the club cannot afford to leave their new manager short of attacking options given their status as a Champions League club next term.
They’ve been linked with a host of big-name forwards in the last week, including Man City’s Jack Grealish, Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo and Frank’s former star at Brentford, Bryan Mbeumo.
All of these players are likely to command a marquee price tag, alongside fellow reported target Mohammed Kudus.
Mohammed Kudus celebrates for West Ham
The West Ham winger has an £85 million release clause in his contract, which becomes active in July, but Graham Potter’s side could sell for around £65 million.
Tottenham initiate talks to sign West Ham star Mohammed Kudus
That is according to GOAL, who also report that Tottenham have “initiated” talks with West Ham over signing Kudus.
Frank’s side have apparently told the Hammers that they’re keen on striking a deal for the Ghanaian, but both clubs haven’t dealt with eachother when it comes to transfers since Scott Parker’s move to Spurs in 2011.
Both clubs most commonly refuse to do business, and for this reason, it is believed that West Ham would much rather Kudus join Chelsea instead, who are also keen on the African winger.
There is also some negotiating left to do, as Daniel Levy only wants to pay £50 million for Kudus as things stand, so they’re some way short of West Ham’s current asking price.
Only Man City’s Jeremy Doku completed more successful take-ons per 90 in the Premier League than Kudus last season, highlighting his devastating dribbling ability, with the former Ajax star also attempting more shots at goal than Dominic Solanke on average (WhoScored).
He would be a truly excellent addition, but Levy will still need to invest significantly here.
One of the top priorities for Celtic in the summer transfer window might be finding a winger to replace Jota until the Portuguese star returns from his long-term injury.
The Hoops swooped to sign the exciting forward from Rennes during the January window, re-signing him 18 months on from his move to Al Ittihad, and he made a fast start to life back in Glasgow.
Jota racked up four goals and two assists in 11 appearances in the Scottish Premiership, despite starting just seven of those matches, after returning to the club at the start of the year.
Unfortunately, though, he suffered a knee injury against Dundee United that is now set to keep him out of action for the start of next season, and possibly into next year.
It was stated at the start of May that Jota had suffered a cruciate ligament injury that is going to see him sit on the sidelines for between six and nine months.
Celtic may look to go out and sign another winger before the end of the summer transfer window because Brendan Rodgers could be without the forward’s talents for half of next term.
Why Jota's injury is a big blow for Celtic
As aforementioned, Jota made a fast start to his second spell at Parkhead and showed that he can still make a big impact at the top end of the pitch at Premiership level, 18 months on from his first exit from Glasgow.
The 26-year-old whiz did not play a competitive match under Rodgers during his first spell, as he left in the same summer that the manager returned, but the attacker quashed any concerns that the style would not suit him as well as Ange Postecoglou’s did.
Goals
0.63
Top 6%
xG
0.48
Top 8%
Assists
0.32
Top 17%
xA
0.37
Top 8%
Chances created
1.89
Top 25%
As you can see in the table above, Jota immediately became one of the top attacking wide players in the Premiership after his return to Parkhead, ranking highly among his positional peers in a host of key metrics as both a scorer and a creator of goals.
That form would not have come as a big surprise to many in Glasgow, though, as the winger had produced 21 goals and 21 assists in his two seasons in the Scottish top-flight under Postecoglou’s management in the 2021/22 and 2022/23 campaigns.
Jota, as shown in the highlights above, found the back of the net 15 times in all competitions for the Scottish giants in his second season under the Australian boss, which led to his move to Saudi Arabia in the summer of 2023.
His form across his two spells at Celtic so far illustrates why it is such a blow to lose the forward to a long-term injury heading into the 2025/26 campaign, because Rodgers’ side will not benefit from the goals and assists that he can provide for several months.
This is why the club may look at their options in the summer transfer window to potentially bring in a new player to compete for a spot out wide, to ensure that the manager is not left short at the top end of the pitch before Jota returns.
However, Celtic could save themselves millions by unearthing a surprise replacement for the Portuguese wizard in the form of Marco Tilio, who has been out on loan in his home country this season.
Why Marco Tilio could be a surprise Jota replacement
The 23-year-old winger signed for the Hoops from Melbourne City in the summer of 2023, but arrived at Parkhead with an injury that meant that he started his career at the club on the back foot.
Tilio only made two appearances in the Premiership as a substitute after coming back from his injury, before being sent out on loan to Melbourne for the second half of the season.
The left-footed star did not fare much better in that initial loan spell back in Australia, though, as he missed a further 13 matches through injury, and managed just one goal in four league appearances.
Tilio then re-joined Melbourne City on loan for the 2024/25 campaign and was absent for 12 games during the first half of the season with a hamstring injury, which left the forward in a difficult situation after 18 months of constant injury problems.
However, the Hoops loanee, who was once described as a “phenomenal” talent by A-League striker Bruce Djite, has not suffered a single injury since returning to action in January, and has caught the eye with his impressive performances.
Talent scout Jacek Kulig once compared Tilio to Manchester City superstar Phil Foden, describing them as “similar” players, and the left-footed playmaker is finally starting to live up to that hype with his form in the A-League for Melbourne City during the 2024/25 campaign.
Whilst he may not be on the same level, quality-wise, as the Premier League star, the Celtic loanee is similar in the sense that he is also a left-footed and diminutive playmaker who can play on either flank or centrally in the attack.
Appearances
19
Goals
5
Big chances created
9
Key passes per game
1.7
Assists
5
Dribbles completed per game
1.2
As you can see in the table above, Tilio was on fire in Australia in the second half of this season with an eye-catching haul of 14 goals and ‘big chances created’ combined in just 19 appearances.
These statistics show that the potential is there for him to provide quality in front of goal on a regular basis when fit and available to play, whilst playing on the left or the right flank, like Jota.
Australia forward Marco Tilio.
Interestingly, he also won possession back in the final third 1.4 times per game in the final third, which suggests that he would be brilliant for the way that Rodgers wants his team to counter press and win possession back off the opposition in their defensive third.
Daizen Maeda, for example, only won the ball back in the final third 0.4 times per game in the Premiership this term, which speaks to the kind of pressing quality that Tilio could offer.
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Overall, Celtic could save themselves millions by utilising the Australia international as a short-term replacement for Jota until he returns from injury, as he would not cost a penny to bring into the squad and his form out on loan suggests that the potential is there for him to be an exciting option for the Hoops moving forward.
Aston Villa have received a boost in their pursuit of a summer target, with it being revealed he is now planning to ignore Barcelona in favour of a move to the Premier League, according to a report.
Villa file complaint after referee blunder
With Newcastle United suffering a surprise 1-0 defeat at home to Everton, a point against Manchester United would’ve been enough for Villa to secure Champions League qualification for the second season on the spin, but they ultimately fell to a 2-0 loss.
Morgan Rogers thought he had opened the scoring for the Villans, but referee Thomas Bramall blew the whistle for an alleged foul on Altay Bayindir, with VAR unable to intervene as play was stopped before the ball hit the net.
As such, an official complaint has been made to the PGMOL, but Unai Emery’s side will ultimately have to settle for Europa League football next season, rather than the much more prestigious and lucrative Champions League.
Villa’s omission from Europe’s elite competition could also impact the business they are able to do this summer, but a new update has suggested they could still be well-positioned to sign a goalkeeper.
According to a report from Spain, Espanyol’s Joan Garcia is on Aston Villa’s radar for a summer transfer swoop, and the 24-year-old is now planning to turn down a move to Barcelona, amid concerns he would not be the first-choice option.
As such, a move to the Premier League is believed to appeal to Garcia, with Villa, Newcastle United and Arsenal all waiting in the wings, and Espanyol are aware it will be difficult to keep hold of the goalkeeper if they receive a big offer from England.
A deal could be relatively cheap, however, with the rumoured asking price of £25m believed to be appealing to all the interested parties.
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Unfortunately, it appears as though Emiliano Martinez’s time at Villa Park could be over, with the Argentine appearing to say a tearful farewell after his side’s final home game of the campaign.
As such, Emery will be tasked with bringing in a replacement this summer, and the Espanyol shot-stopper could be a fantastic option, having been lauded as “elite” by scout Ben Mattinson during the 2024-25 campaign.
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Not only that, but the 24-year-old ranks in the 86th percentile for his save percentage, and the 91st percentile for his crosses stopped percentage per 90 over the past year, so it is promising news that he could reject Barcelona in favour of a Premier League move.